Rolling door with slat therefor having windows



INVENTOR RALPH H. GREEGOR ATTORNEYS R H GREEGOR ROLLING DOOR WITH SLAT THEREFOR HAVING WINDOWS Dec. 16, 1952 Original Filed May 28, 1949 Dec. 16, 1952 GREEGOR 2,621,726

ROLLING DOOR WITH SLAT THEREFOR HAVING WINDOWS Original Filed May 28, 1949 2 SI-lEETS--Sl-IEET. 2

INVENTOR RALPH H. GREEGOR \LMUW ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 16, 4 1952 ROLLING DOOR WITH SLAT THEREFOR HAVING WINDOWS Ralph H. Greegor, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Kinnear Manufacturing Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application May 28, 1949, Serial No.

96,007. Divided and thi 1950, Serial No. 177,718

6 Claims.

- This invention relates to improvements in rolling doors, and particularly to the provision of a .window means in rolling doors constructed of articulated slats.

One of the preferred types of rolling doors is constructed of relatively narrow transversely extending slats which are swivelly connected together along their edges. A door or curtain of any length or width can be made up in this manner for an opening in a building wall. A door or curtain of this type is highly flexibl and can be rolled up on a drum at the top of the opening when it is desired to open the door.

-While doors and curtains of this type are highly satisfactory so far as strength and convenience is concerned, it has been difiicult to provide any suitable Window ,means therein for the admission of light orair or for the purpose of seeing through the door when'it is closed. This difiiculty has arisen from the fact that the slats are relatively narrow and are generally concave toward one side of the door, and because the door or curtain mustretain its flexibility in order that the full utility thereof may be realized.

The primary object of the instant invention is the provision of an arrangement for placing a ventilating, illuminating, or visibility window in a door or curtain of this type in such manner that, While adequate window space is provided, there is no loss of flexibility or strength of the e door.

Another object is the provision of an arrangementfor placing a window in a rolling door of the type referred to, such that the window can be located any desired place in the door. Another object is the provisionof a window arrangement for a rolling door which does not detract from the flexibility thereof and which is not subject to breakage.

Stillanother object of this invention is the provision of a slat for a rolling door adapted for being articulated with other slats in the construction of a complete door and having individual window means arranged therein. 7

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to. the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a door constructed according to this invention looking to ward the inside of the door.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through the door opening showing the construction of the rolling door;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken 5 application August 4,

through a portion of the rolling door and showing one slat without windows therein and two slats with windows;

Figure 4' is a somewhat enlarged view looking in at the inside surface of one of the windowed slats, as indicated by line 4-4 on Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are sections taken through the closure member and slat as indicated by lines 5-5 and 6-6 on Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing how the window closure member of Figures 4 and 5 can be modified so as to have screening mounted therein.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the general arrangement of a rolling door of the type with which this invention is con cerned is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In these figures, there is a building wall I0 having an opening l2 therein which it is desired to close by a rolling door or curtain. At each side of opening I2 on the inside wall of the building are arranged guide channels I 4 and extending across the opening and with their ends disposed within the guide channels are the articulated slats or panels I comprising the rolling door.

The rolling door extends upwardly and is secured to a drum or shaft [8 which is adapted for being driven for either raising or lowering the door by means of gearing 20 which can selectively be actuated by the hand chain 22.

Arranged at about eye-level in the rolling door are a plurality of slats'indicated at 24 and'each of which has therein a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures 25 spaced along thele'ngth of the said slat. These apertures provide the window means with which this invention is concerned, and it will be evident that as many or as few thereof could be provided. In the 'illustra-r tion shown in Figure 1, the apertured slats are at about eye-level and thus afford window means so that when the door is down in its closed position, anyone inside the building can readily: see through the door. At the same time, the window means provide openings for admitting light, or for seeing through or, as will be seen hereinafter, for ventilation.

In Figure 3, it will be seen how the individual slats making up the door are connected together. In this figure, the uppermost slat is indicated at I 6, and this is a'solid slat having no window means therein. The lower two slats in Figure 3 identified by numeral 24 are somewhat wider than slats i7 and are also apertured, as at 26. The slats are concave toward the inside of the building for imparting greater stifinessito the door than could be provided by flat slats, and have their edges rolled so as to engage correspondingly rolled edges on the adjacent slats, whereby the said slats can swivel relatively to each other as they are rolled around the drum 18.

In Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen that over each aperture 26 there is mounted a member 28 which includes a peripheral part overlying the periphcry of the associated aperture in the slat. Member 28, as shown in Figures 3 through 6, may be glass or plastic, so that the central part thereof, as at 30, which forms the window closure, is integral with the said member. member overlying the periphery of the aperture in the slat may be annularly grooved for receiving sealing means 32 which makes the window absolutely water and weather tight.

At each end of each member 28, there may be the slotted extension 36 which forms with the corresponding extension 34 of the adjacent end of the adjacent member, an aperture 36 for receiw ing' retaining means, such as bolt 33 extendin through the slat.

The window-arrangement described hereinbefore has been of the transparent and substantially air tight type, but it is within the purview of this invention to provide for ventilating windows as well as illuminating or visibility windows. This can be done by utilizing screening or the like as the closure member instead of the solid transparent element shown, as is illustrated in Figure 7.

In Figure '7, an arrangement is shown wherein there is a frame 40 overlying the periphery of aperture 42 in slat 44. Frame 40 may be retained in position over the aperture in the slat as by bolt 48 in the same manner as member 28 is retained in position by bolts 38 in Figures 3 through 6.

In'Figure '7' frame 49 has a central opening 48 therein that is covered by the screening 58, and screening 50 is retained in place on frame 40 by clamping ring 52. The construction shown in Figure 7 is quite similar to that shown in Figures 3 through 5, in that each of the members for being mounted over the apertures in the slats can be completely prefabricated before being assembled with the slats.

From the foregoing it will be evident that this invention provides for a relatively simple and inexpensive means for providing for windows in rolling door or curtains. These windows can be arranged anywhere desired in the door and may be of any size and shape. The strength of the door is not materially decreased, and the transparent strips covering the apertures and individual slats are so protected as to be substantially free of breakage. The construction provides a ready means of installing the transparent strips and their retaining members at the site of erection of the door, thereby permitting the slats and transparent strips to be packed separately and eliminating the need of special packing for the slats so as to protect the transparent strips against breakage and scratching during shipping.

This application is a division of my on -pending application Serial No. 96,007, filed May 28, 1949, now Patent Number 2,592,888, issued April 15, 1952.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The part of the.

I claim:

1. In a rolling door construction, a relatively narrow elongated panel, said panel being curved about its longitudinal axis and presenting a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, an aperture in said panel, a transparent member curved to fit into said aperture and form a closure therefor, said transparent member comprising a peripheral portion which is offset from the outer convex surface of said member. said offset portion of the transparent member being shaped to engage the underlying edge portion of said panel defining said aperture so that the outer surface portion thereof is substantially flush with the adjacent convex surface portion of said transparent member, and fastenin means arranged at opposite sides of said aperture for fixedly securing said transparent member to said panel.

2. In a rolling door construction, a relatively narrow elongated panel, said panel being curved about its longitudinal axis and presentin a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. an aperture in said panel, a transparent member curved to fit into said aperture, said transparent member comprising a peripheral portion which is offset from the outer convex surface of said member and adapted to underlie the edge portions of said panel defining said aperture, said offset portion being shaped to engage said panel so that the outer surface portion thereof forming said aperture is substantially flush with the adjacent convex surface portion of said transparent member, means for sealing said offset underlying portion of said transparent member to said panel, and fastening means arranged at opposite sides of said aperture for securin the transparent member to said panel.

3. In a rolling door construction, a relatively narrow elongated panel, said panel being curved about its longitudinal axis and presenting a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, the longitudinally extending edges of said panel being rolled in a loop formation, a reversely curved portion adjacent said rolled loop section, an aperture in said panel, a transparent member curved to fit into said aperture, said transparent member comprising a peripheral portion which is offset from the outer convex surface and adapted to underlie the edge portions of said panel defining said aperture, said offset portion being shaped to engage said panel so that the outer surface portion thereof forming said aperture is substantially flush with the adjacent convex surface portion of said transparent member, and fastening means spaced longitudinally of said panel and arranged at opposite sides of said aperture for fixedly securing said transparent member to said-panel.

4. In a rolling door construction, a relatively narrow elongated panel, said panel being curved about its longitudinal axis and presenting a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, the longitudinally extending edges of said panel being rolled in a loop formation, a reversely curved portion adjacent said rolled loop section, an aperture in said panel, a transparent member curved to fit into said aperture, said transparent member comprising a peripheral portion which is offset from the outer convex surface and adapted to underlie the edge portions of said apertured panel, said offset portion being shaped to engage the underlying portion of said panel about said aperture so that the outer surface portion of said panel forming said aperture is substantially flush with the adjacent convex surface portion of said transparent member, and means comp-rising an annular groove disposed in said offset portion filled with plastic material for sealing said transparent member in said aperture.

5. In a rolling door construction, a relatively narrow elongated panel, said panel being curved about its longitudinal axis and presenting a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, an aperture in said panel, a transparent member curved to fit into said aperture, the said transparent member comprising a peripheral portion which is oiTset from the outer convex surface of said transparent member and adapted to underlie the edge portions of said panel defining said aperture, said offset portion being shaped to engage said panel so that the outer surface portion thereof forming said aperture is substantially flush with the adjacent convex surface portion of said transparent member, said offset underlying portion of said transparent member comprising an angular groove for receiving and retaining sealing means to maintain said transparent member weather-tight against said panel, an extended portion at opposite sides of said transparent member, said extended portion being slotted to receive means for securing said transparent member to said panel.

6. In a rolling dOOr construction, a relatively narrow elongated panel, said panel being curved about its longitudinal axis and presenting a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, an

aperture in said panel, a transparent strip arranged to fit snugly against said panel and form a closure for said aperture, said transparent strip having a peripheral flange which is integral with said transparent strip and offset from the body portion of said transparent strip, said flange being shaped to engage the underside of said panel adjacent said aperture so that the outer surface portion of the panel about said aperture is substantially flush with the outer surface of said strip adjacent said aperture, said flange having an annular groove in its panel engaging surface portion, plastic means disposed in said groove for sealing said transparent strip in said aperture, and means for detachably fastening said transparent strip to said panel to retain the sam in sealing engagement therewith.

RALPH I-I. GREEGOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,039,447 Pixley May 5, 1936 2,061,304 Graham Nov. 1'7, 1936 2,160,762 Stenberg May 30, 1939 2,208,039 Mills July 16, 1940 2,229,877 Walley Jan. 28, 1941 2,316,526 McDonald Apr. 13, 1943 2,325,773 Hennessy Aug. '3, 1943 2,390,116 Michelman Dec. 4, 1945 2,495,963 Greegor Jan. 31, 1950 

